A MANHUNT was under way today for Birmingham's most wanted man - John Davis.

The "dangerous" convicted burglar was on the run after being sprung from police custody by baseball-bat wielding thugs who attacked officers escorting him.

They struck as Davis was travelling in an unmarked police car, showing officers the site of a stolen car in Billesley, yesterday.

Two masked men in a black Volvo rammed the police car, smashed the windscreen with baseball bats and sprayed the officers in the face with what was thought to be CS gas, before dragging Davis free.

Police today appealed for information to help find him but warned the public not to approach Davis.

Det Chief Insp David Walker, who is leading the hunt, said: "This man should not be approached as he is considered dangerous.

"The officers were sprayed with something but we don't know what with. They were all shaken but not hurt.

"It appears that this was planned. We will be working around the clock until this man is recaptured. Our inquiries will be relentless."

Davis, who is 6ft 2ins, skinny and has ginger hair, was serving time for burglary and theft and had been behind bars for some time. He was allowed out of prison yesterday morning by police in Solihull after claiming that he could show them the location of a stolen vehicle.

As the unmarked police car pulled into Capcroft Road, Billesley, at lunchtime, two balaclava-clad men were lying in wait in the Volvo.

The three plain-clothed officers - two men and a woman - involved in the attack remained on duty as the alert to find Davis, who was still dressed in his striped prison shirt, spread throughout the force.

The Volvo raced into nearby Chinn Brook Road, where two of the men jumped into a blue Audi. Both vehicles sped off towards Solihull. An all-ports bulletin has also been issued and 25-year-old Davis's details have now been circulated to all police forces across the country.

Supt Peter Sear, from Kings Heath police, said: "Anyone who is associated with people who behave towards police officers in this fashion is a dangerous person.

"The violent attack on police officers makes us angry and we have to get these people back into custody as soon as possible."

Detectives were today working with prison bosses to check who had visited Davis in Swinfen Hall prison, near Lichfield, and who he had been in contact with.

Meanwhile, senior officers are also looking at the decisions behind the plan to take a prisoner out of jail to find a stolen car.

While acknowledging the "unusual" nature of the attack, police said that prisoners were regularly brought out of prison to talk to officers about offences they may have been involved in.

Police Federation chairman Paul Tonks said: "Any attack on a police officer will not be tolerated, particularly in what appears to be a pre-planned incident.

"We need to know how this could happen and obviously questions need to be asked."

* Anyone spotting Davis should ring 999. Anyone with information about the incident should call detectives at Kings Heath on 0845 113 5000. All calls will be treated in confidence.